DA Arrears Calculator
Work out the dearness allowance arrears due on your basic pay when DA is raised with effect from an earlier date.
Researched by Mirza Seraj BaigFacts last checked against official sources on 12 September 2026Pay in your level of the 7th CPC pay matrix. DA is not paid on special pay or other allowances.
60% from 1 January 2026, up from 58%.
Months from the date the new rate took effect until your salary includes it.
Total DA arrears
₹1,080
- Monthly DA at 58%
- ₹10,440
- Monthly DA at 60%
- ₹10,800
- Increase per month
- ₹360
- Months
- 3
What is dearness allowance, and why are arrears paid?
Dearness allowance is a percentage of basic pay paid to central government employees to offset inflation; pensioners receive the same rate as dearness relief. It is revised with effect from 1 January and 1 July, under the formula accepted from the 7th Central Pay Commission's recommendations.
Each revision has been announced some months after the date it takes effect, so the increase for the months in between is paid as arrears. DA stays a separate element of pay: it is not added to basic pay.
Planning ahead for the next pay commission? Try the 8th Pay Commission salary calculator.
How is DA Arrears calculated?
Dearness allowance is a percentage of basic pay only. Monthly DA = basic pay × DA rate, with fractions of 50 paise and above rounded up to the next rupee and smaller fractions ignored. Arrears = (monthly DA at the new rate − monthly DA at the old rate) × the number of months from the date the new rate took effect until it is paid.
DA arrears example: basic pay ₹44,900, DA 58% to 60%
At 58%, DA on ₹44,900 is ₹26,042 a month; at 60% it is ₹26,940. The difference is ₹898 a month.
If three months of arrears are due, they come to ₹2,694. ₹44,900 is the starting pay of Level 7 in the 7th CPC pay matrix.
DA rates since January 2024
Each rate as a percentage of basic pay, with the date of the Department of Expenditure's order.
| Effective from | DA rate | Rise | Order dated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | 60% | +2 points | 22 April 2026 |
| 1 July 2025 | 58% | +3 points | 6 October 2025 |
| 1 January 2025 | 55% | +2 points | 2 April 2025 |
| 1 July 2024 | 53% | +3 points | 21 October 2024 |
| 1 January 2024 | 50% | — | 12 March 2024 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest DA hike for central government employees?
DA was raised from 58% to 60% of basic pay with effect from 1 January 2026. The Cabinet approved it on 18 April 2026, and the Department of Expenditure issued the order on 22 April 2026.
Is DA calculated on basic pay only?
Yes. The Department of Expenditure's orders define basic pay as the pay drawn in the prescribed level of the 7th CPC pay matrix, and exclude any other type of pay such as special pay.
Has DA from 1 July 2026 been announced?
Not as of 12 September 2026. The latest order is for 1 January 2026, at 60% of basic pay.
Why are DA arrears paid?
Each revision takes effect from 1 January or 1 July but has been announced some months later — the 1 January 2026 increase was ordered on 22 April 2026. The difference for the months in between is paid as arrears.
How much does the 58% to 60% DA rise add on ₹18,000 basic pay?
₹360 a month: DA goes from ₹10,440 to ₹10,800.